Spread of EVs Could Trigger Wave of Urban Renewal

Braking and the performance of infotainment systems, but these are often done remotely.

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Most EV makers maintain tight control over whatever service and repairs are needed, and EV owners tend to rely on authorized dealers.

All of which leaves independent garages, like the one owned by my friend, with much less to do. A study by the consulting firm McKinsey & Co forecasts that EVs will reduce aftermarket automotive services by up to 40 percent by 2035, depending on the pace of EV adoption.

PETROL STATIONS THREATENED Petrol stations are also under threat. Their core business—selling petrol—will obviously decline, mainly because of the proliferation of EVs and hybrids but also because new ICE cars are more fuel-efficient. The number of petrol stations in Singapore is already falling, having declined, according to a report in ST, to 184 in 2024, from 222 in 2003. As EV adoption rises further, the decline will accelerate.

One consequence of the rise of EVs will be business and job disruptions at independent car repair and servicing companies, car-parts suppliers and petrol stations. There is no publicly available data on the number of people employed in these businesses. But given the number of petrol stations and the fact that the Singapore Motor Workshop Association represents more than 500 independent motor workshops in Singapore, it is a fair estimate that at least 5,000 workers will be affected.